The Nintendo Switch 2 has been the big buzzword of the gaming rumor mill for quite some time, with leaks and claims allegedly revealing what it looks like, when it will be released, what specs it will have, and more. Before Nintendo officially announced that a Switch successor would be coming, the existence of the Switch 2 was one of gaming's worst-kept secrets. However, now that the Nintendo Switch is seven years old, the point of a new Switch, one that boasts worse hardware than the current gen, remains contentious.

As the end of 2024 approaches, the rumors and leaks surrounding the Switch successor have begun ramping up, with the design of the Switch 2 allegedly leaking online. While fans are certainly getting excited by these leaks, it feels as if maybe it's too late for the Switch 2, at least when it comes to the console race. However, whether that matters, or indeed whether Nintendo needs to care, remain another issue entirely.

The Switch 2 Is Releasing Late And That's Okay

Nintendo's New Console Will Sell Anyway

Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will be announced sometime before the end of the fiscal year, which is March 31, 2025, although it has remained very quiet about exactly when that will be. While many believe it will be announced during a rumored good chance that it won't launch until 2025.

Eurogamer reported that the Switch 2, which, at one point, was slated to release in 2024, is now set to come out in Q1 of 2025. Notably, VGC, as well as Toyo Securities analyst Hideki Yasuda and many others, further confirmed this, giving the impression that the Switch 2 will arrive sometime between January and March 2025. By this point, this Nintendo Switch could be potentially eight years old and will have lived through the reveals of next-gen consoles, their pro-counterparts, and the handheld revolution with the likes of the Steam Deck and more.

It is clear, and has been for quite some time, that Nintendo does not care about the console wars, nor does it really care about competition. While Switch sales have been somewhat in decline over the past few years, it has third best-selling console ever. Nintendo consoles aren't guaranteed moneymakers - the WiiU is a good example - but by this point, they're a bankable brand and one that clearly isn't concerned about keeping up with its competitors.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Will Sell, No Matter Its Release Date

The Nintendo Switch Audience Is A Different Beast

The sheer number of leaks and rumors surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 should be a big enough indication that people are excited about it, even just to see what it's like, and that will likely translate to sales.

However, what's important to is that the Nintendo Switch base is completely different from those on PlayStation, Xbox, or even PC. The Nintendo Switch sells itself as a casual console that is capable of playing triple-A games, albeit with significantly pared-back visuals, and as a result, there are a lot of people who own a Switch alongside other platforms.

In a 2020 report by Gamesindustry.biz, it was revealed that Switch owners were the most likely to have multiple consoles, with 60% of Switch players owning a PlayStation 4 and 51% also having an Xbox One. Switch s don't typically buy a Nintendo Switch expecting the best graphics, which is why they own other consoles alongside it.

Rather, people buy the Switch for its form factor, its more casual appeal, and the ease of use thanks to the simple UI, which the Switch 2 will almost certainly maintain, albeit with faster loading times and better visuals.

Of course, it's worth noting that the WiiU was also pitched as more of an upgraded version of the Wii, and that sold badly. There is still the possibility that the Switch 2 will suffer a similar fate, although Nintendo has likely learned from its mistakes from the WiiU's disastrous launch.

If the Switch 2 has backwards compatibility, then most Switch s will likely see it as an upgrade rather than a traditional next-gen console like how the PS5 Pro has positioned itself as an upgrade.

Nintendo is still the only company producing handhelds that appeal to a more casual audience, with its closest competition being the Steam Deck, although it struggles with not having every game on its platform even run. PlayStation has come close with the Portal, although its reliance on an internet connection removes the portability factor the Switch provides, and Xbox isn't close to delivering a handheld.

People Buy Nintendo Consoles For Nintendo Exclusives

A New Animal Crossing Or Mario Kart Will Help Sell The Switch 2

One of the biggest problems with the WiiU, outside some obvious exceptions, was that it failed to deliver on the exclusives front. While it had some decent games that were later ported to the Nintendo Switch, there wasn't a huge incentive to buy a WiiU as there was little on there that was worthwhile and couldn't be played elsewhere. The Nintendo Switch was the complete inverse, offering some of the best games ever made exclusively on its platform, including the best-selling titles Breath of the Wild and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

There are plenty of possible Switch 2 launch titles that players would like, and Nintendo has enough recognizable brands, elevated thanks to the popularity of the Switch, that it could reliably bank on as being console sellers. If the Switch 2 was released with a new Mario Kart, mainline Mario game, Animal Crossing, or a new IP from one of its partner developers, it would likely sell well. Nintendo's catalog of sellable series rivals that of PlayStation and Xbox, and would likely help the Switch 2 get its foot in the door despite releasing at such a late stage.

It's undeniable that the Nintendo Switch 2 is very, very late to the party, and for many, the hype may have dwindled. However, it would be unfair to say that it's too late for the Switch 2, as Nintendo's bankable franchises and the casual nature of the console mean that it's likely to do reasonably well. While the Nintendo Switch 2 may not have the graphical fidelity of a PS5 or Series X, it is very likely to win the hearts of casual players and those who just want to play triple-A games on a handheld once again.

Source: Eurogamer, VGC, Kabutan, Statista, Gamesindustry.biz